TPF. Griffin Rock. Surprises

[dens_extra_pups]

Dani: *busy scrubbing Sundog's back as the Seeklet purrs thunderously* I can't believe you were scratching your wings on the wall. Couldn't you smell the fresh paint? *scrub scrub scrub!*

Sundog: *purrrr! Aunty is scratching his itchy wings!*

Blades: *sitting and watching with a slight grin at the cuteness of the interaction. Knows that Sundog's tiny wings are in a developmental spurt right now and that that brush probably feels very good*

Dani: Just a little bit longer, Doggy. I've nearly got it all off. *scrub!*

Cade: //Dani, we just found a woman out in that field with the green scarecrow. She's scared out of her mind, won't let anyone touch her, and keeps saying she doesn't want a doctor even though she really looks like she could use one.//

Dani: //What do you want me to do?// *frowns*

Cade: //Be a woman, duh. Cody and I are probably pretty darn scary right now. Especially our massive baby brother.//

Dani: *frown deepens, but she grabs the shower hose and starts rinsing Sundog off* Dad, you'd better come get Doggy. Blades, get ready to fly. We've got to go talk to a scared one.

Blades: *jaw drops with dismay and concern, but even as he does so he's turning to the lift and heading for the roof*

Sundog: *no more scritchies? Sad skreek. But then perks when he sees Grandpa and shows him the brush*

Chief Burns: That's my shoe brush. Be safe, Dani.

Dani: Always. *already heading out*

Blades: *as he flies toward the scene* I hope the poor lady's going to be alright. I wonder what happened to her?

Dani: It's not like we have a lot of violent crime around here. Maybe she was experimenting with something. Can you get a visual?

Blades: Hmmm. Yes, we're passed the signal that was jamming... *gets one look at the slender blonde who is huddled in the growing hay and staring at Cade with tired wariness and yelps!* Sabrina!

blonde: *trying to keep an eye on the redhead, will spare a quick, wary look skyward*

Dani: *holding on as Blades nearly falls out of the sky* What?? Your wife? You said she couldn't come to this reality!!!

Blades: Hormah and Oppy said she couldn't! *speeding up till Dani's pressed into her seat*

blonde: *frightened expression is a go as she realizes the chopper she can hear is approaching faster, will try to scramble for cover*

Cade: *at his most soothing* Hey. Don't run. That's my sister. She wants to help you.

Blades: *sees the blonde's scramble and transforms in mid-air* Sabrina! It's me, Blades!

Cade: *head snaps up as Cody rises with shock from where he'd been hiding in the tall grasses* What???

blonde: *stops short, disbelief clear on her face as she cautiously looks toward Blades*

Blades: *lands, gently but absently unloads a Dani who is rattled by the suddenness of that transform, and then holds out his hands* *softly* You're Sabrina, right? 'Brina?

Cade: *looks at Dani* ????

Dani: !!!!!

blonde: *quietly* It... It really is you. *looks like she's about to start crying, will hurry over to the chopper bot's hands*

Blades: *down to both knees as he scoops her up and holds her close to his face* *softly* You're hurt. Your arm looks broken.

Sabrina: *is also shaking* Th-There was an attack while we were looking for the kids... *suddenly tenses as she remembers* Ferdy! I was trying to protect her... *winces and puts her hand to her head* Dizzy...

Blades: *soft sound as he gently cuddles. But then he stiffens with shock and sniffs* *quiet disbelief and surprise* You're bleeding. That's human blood.

Cade: Bleeding? We can't help her up there, Blades! *worryscowl!* *and then a soft squawk as Cody and Dani both hit him*

Sabrina: *quietly* I don't feel so good, Blades.

Blades: *face shows his worry* *softly* Let Dani, Cody, and Cade help you. They'll bring you to the hospital. If you're human they can help you there.

Sabrina: *shiver* Can't feel my sisters... hurts....

Blades: *watches Heatwave slowly rise up from where he'd been hiding in the grass too, despite Chase's attempts to keep him from doing so* *softly, to Sabrina* I'm going to put you down now. But I'm staying with you.

Sabrina: *very small nod*

Heatwave: *frowning as he watches the human Blades is holding*

Chase: *fretting quietly*

Cade: *over to Heatwave and grabbing supplies, including the stretcher and the backboard* Come on, people, less gawking more working!

Cody: *hustling his tall and brawny self to get things ready*

Dani: *hurries toward Sabrina, her hands out soothingly*

Sabrina: *bleary frown as she studies Dani* *quietly* You're Blades' partner...

Dani: *slight grin* He's told you about me, huh? Can I help you? Are you okay with that?

Sabrina: *small nod, shivers and takes a deep, shaky breath*

Heatwave: *grousing quietly at Cade and at Chase*

Cade: Stick a sock in it, Heat. *intent on getting things set up*

Dani: *arm around Sabrina supportively, but then she gasps softly as she momentarily rests her hand on the woman's stomach and feels something move* You're pregnant??

Blades: 0_0 What?

Sabrina: *confused* What?

Dani: *quickly and gently gets her laid down on the stretcher with Cody's help, then gently feels her stomach* *worried biting of lip* You're going to have a baby, and I think it's going to be soon.

Cody: *soft eek sound*

Blades: *clunk*

Cade: *gapes at fainted bot* Hey, what the heck? You even delivered one of these once.

Sabrina: *so confused* Never did anything that leads to babies... *slight wince*

Dani: *stethoscope!* *listens carefully* Well there's a baby here. Let's just take care of you and it, and then worry about where it came from afterwards, okay?

Sabrina: *small nod*

Chase: *moving to try and rouse Blades*

Blades: *hands come up and grab his friend by the collar* I'm going to be a daddy!

Chase: *startled squeak at being grabbed by the collar*

Heatwave: *looks over* What?!

Cade: Whu? *head whips around*

Cody: *too busy getting Sabrina's wrist splinted to listen to anything the bots are saying in the background*

Dani: *firmly* Alright, she's ready for transport. Blades, are you going to be able to fly?

Blades: *feet up, boot Chase. Sit up and then transform* Yup! All ready! *fidgets with the thing for stretcher carrying* I'm ready.

Chase: *startled not-curse, grunts as he lands on the ground*

Sabrina: *flinches, whimper*

Dani: Easy. Everything's alright. You don't mind flying, right? *supervising as her brothers carefully bring the stretcher over to Blades*

Sabrina: ... *quietly* I'm an Aerialbot. I was built for the skies.

Dani: *grins as Cade and Cody look confused and curious* Thought so.

Blades: *rotors moving as soon as the stretcher is fully secured*

Dani: *ack! Scrambling to get inside!*

Cody and Cade: *ducking and frowning as they watch their sister get into place and the chopper rise up and head toward the hospital*


Later, at the hospital


Cody: *peers though the windshield as Chase pulls up* You know you're shaking, Chase?

Chase: *quietly* I apologize.

Cody: *also quiet as the cruiserbot settles into a parking stall* You didn't seem very surprised about any of this, except maybe the baby.

Chase: *silent for a few moments* I am not certain I have permission to release confidential information.

Cody: *blinks* What do you mean, "Confidential information"?

Chase: *quieter* I promised Blades I would not speak of it without his permission.

Cody: So you knew he had a girlfriend. *folds his arms over his chest* Why was he hiding it? Because she's human?

Chase: *quiet, will ping Blades' comm*

Blades: //Eeek!//

Chase: //Blades, I believe it would be prudent to explain the situation to the rest of the team... Cody is inquiring about Sabrina... and I suspect Cade and Heatwave will be doing likewise shortly.//

Blades: *bibbling sound* //I can't talk now, Chase! The baby's coming!//

Chase: *would be boggling if he were in root mode. As it is, his expression is clear on his communications display*

Cody: What's wrong, Chase? *watches as Heatwave offloads Cade before transforming and walking around the hospital building*

Chase: *quietly* I commed Blades, intending to ask him for permission to explain the situation... The baby is on its way.

Cody: *bolts out of the cab* Did he say which room? *ready to go and offer support!* Oh wait. He doesn't even fit into the building! Oh maaaan!


meanwhile


Heatwave: *rounds a corner and sees Blades with his face pressed against one of the windows of the hospital* Blades, what are you doing?

Blades: *squeaks, and then babbles something slightly panicked in Cybertronian* *back to the window!*

Heatwave: Wait, what?! *moving to see if he can get a look as well*

Blades: *sees the baby come into the world and bursts into tears*

Heatwave: ... *gruff patpat of the chopperbot's back*

Dani: *over all team frequencies* //It's a five pound seven ounce boy!//

Blades: *sobs and wishes aloud that he could hold his wife right now*

Heatwave: ... Wife?

Blades: *nods and wipes at his eyes* That's my baby, Heatwave.

Heatwave: *frowns* How is that possible? The lady's a human.

Blades: She usually isn't. *perks as the window is pulled open by a smiling nurse, and then holds his hands out as a bundle is offered to him*

nurse: Mama and Dani say you get to hold him first. *grins*

Blades: *looks at tiny fat boy with thick black hair standing up in all directions* *cries more!*

baby: *blue eyes in an intent frown as he tries to focus on the person holding him*

Heatwave: *blinks. Thinks the little baby is kind of cute*

Blades: *looks through the window to check on Sabrina even as he holds the baby close to shelter him from the breeze*

Cody: *just arrived by Blade's feet, having run all the way*

Sabrina: *looks absolutely exhausted, but she's got a small smile on her face*

Blades: *as Cody anxiously demands to know how the lady is* How are you feeling?

Sabrina: *quiet* Tired... Still a bit dizzy...

Doctor: *kindly* She's got a slight concussion, and her right arm's broken in two places. She'll need a lot of rest, but she's going to be alright. Have you contacted her family?

Cade: *just poked his head in after finding out that everything was safe* That's us. She's a Burns. Little accident happened while she was on her way here.

Dani: *nods* Sabrina Burns.

Sabrina: *startled when Cade poked his head into the room*

Cade: *blinks* Um. Hey, Beanie, did you lose your ID?

Blades: Don't call her that, Cade!

Sabrina: *confused expression is a go*

Doctor: *knows and trusts the Burns family* I suggest bringing her home and keeping her quiet. *slight squeak and a quick side step as one of Blade's hands comes in at the window and reaches for the lady in the bed*

Cade: Whoanow!

Sabrina: *surprised squeak*

Blades: *gently brings her out of the room, then looks from Cody to Heatwave before deciding not to hurt Heatwave's feelings and offering the truckbot his baby son* His name is Orion. Please be careful with him.

Sabrina: *trying to relax, will close her eyes*

Heatwave: *slight scowl* I know how to act with a baby, Blades. *and he really does. It's with the utmost gentleness and care that the fire truckbot cradles little Orion*

Orion: *now directing that intent attempt to focus at the new person holding him* *those big eyes are very bright blue*

Blades: I know. But I had to say it. *sounds fussy and fretful as he turns his back to his friend and starts swapping Sabrina's hospital gear for a nice flannel shirt that had been left in his storage and a soft sleeping bag* Where's Chase? We need his back seat.

Heatwave: I'll get him. *will comm the policebot and tell him where they're all gathered*

Chase: *can be heard approaching a moment later*

Blades: Hurry up and transform, Chase. Sabrina needs to lay down in your back seat. *full blown bossy fuss mode. A mode never seen before*

Chase: *blinks and transforms, opening his back doors once he's in vehicle mode* *is too shocked at Blades' sudden attitude change to quote laws or regulations*

Blades: *down to one knee and very carefully deposits the bundle of 'Brina on the seat. Then clicks to her softly* You can trust Chase. He's never broken any laws, if he could help it.

Sabrina: *small nod, still has her eyes closed* *softly* Wish I could ride with you, Blades.

Blades: *sounds so fussy* I don't want you getting cold. *sudden gasp and turns to the window* Cade, run and rent a seat for Orion!

Heatwave: *acting like a total sap, as he always does when entrusted with babies*

Cade: Run? Just who's in charge... *looks at the expression on Blades' face* Right away. *turns and exits the room at speed*

Blades: *sighs and then looks down as someone pats his leg* Oh. Heatwave, Cody hasn't seen Orion yet.

Heatwave: *blinks, will move to carefully crouch so Cody can see the newborn*

Cody: *careful peek, and then a gasp* He's even smaller than the twins were when they were born. And he's got as much hair as Raf's Orion does! Awww!

Orion: *intent frowny*

Blades: *softly* Here, I need to take him back now. He needs to have breakfast before we go home.

Cody: Oh yeah. That's important.

Heatwave: *blinks* Er...

Blades: *carefully takes his little son, and then tucks him into the sleeping bag with Sabrina* *so softly and gently* Do you need me to help you, 'Brina?

Sabrina: *quietly* Help me get Orion situated?

Blades: *does so very carefully. Pays no mind to Heatwave's curious, scowling peeking*

Sabrina: *trying to click for Orion, still looks a bit dazed*

Orion: *huh? What? Ohhhh! NOM!*

Chase: *quietly, to Heatwave* That is how human mothers feed their babies.

Cody: *looks over* Don't stare, Heatwave. *blink* You didn't know that?

Heatwave: *to Cody* I wasn't!

Blades: *frowns at Heatwave, a protective light in his eyes in response to the sharp tone*

Sabrina: *manages to click! It sounds strange, but she is clicking!*

Orion: *little wiggle and something nearly like a click muffled by nomming*

Cade: *comes running up just then, baby seat in one hand and a little snug thing to help tiny Orion fit in the seat in the other!* Did I miss anything?

Heatwave: *looks to Cade* Orion's having breakfast.

Cade: *blinks, then frowns* *to Blades* Are you sure she knows the right way? If he latches on wrong it'll give her blisters.

Cody: o.0 *who are you and what did you do with my brother?*

Heatwave: *looks a bit grossed out by the idea*

Blades: She's doing it right. *serene confidence, and then a blink and an inadvertent giggle as a sound comes from Orion's diaper*

Cody: *snerk!*

Sabrina: *soft snerk*

Cade: *would be facepalming with amusement if his hands weren't full* So who's wearing the seat?

Blades: I am. But Orion has to finish eating first.

Cade: You sure he'll like flying?

Blades: *chuckles* I'm sure. Baby flyers always do.

Dani: *comes around the building the other way, a huge package of diapers under one arm, and a bag of receiving blankets, powder, and salve in the other* *ran to the nearest store*

Orion: *nearly asleep. Stops eating, burps and dribbles slightly, and then sighs and goes to sleep the rest*

Cade: ...The kid burps himself. That's not fair.

Sabrina: *can't help but snerk at that too, even with as tired and dizzy as she's feeling*

Blades: *voice soft again* Can I take him now, 'Brina?

Cade: *grinning as he mutters about sappy*

Sabrina: *quietly* I think he'll be alright with being moved.

Blades: Alright. *reaches in and takes baby, then uses his other hand to zip up the sleeping bag* Are you comfy?

Sabrina: *small nod*

Blades: Good. *gently gives Orion to Cody, and then leads the way around to the parking lot, which is mostly empty today, before transforming* Alright, Cade.

Cody: Awww! Look at the chubby cheeks!

Cade: *as he follows Blades* He ain't gonna be that little for long. *cheery smirk*

Chase: *making sure his interior is a comfortable temperature for Sabrina* *yes, he's concerned for the woman, but at the same time, he doesn't want to be on the receiving end of bossy/fussy Blades giving Looks*

Heatwave: *grousing at Cade and arguing quietly about how the seat needs to go in*

Cade: *busy getting it settled and the little snugger into it* How many kids have you had? That's right, none. I think I have more experience here.

Chase: Technically, you also have had no "kids", Cade. Haley had them.

Cade: *unperturbed by Chase's literalism today* Well I have them now. And I was the one that installed their car seats.

Sabrina: *quiet sigh as she slips into a light doze*

Heatwave: Big deal. *annoyed huff*

Chase: I believe it would be wise to return to the firehouse, so Sabrina may rest.

Cade: That's the idea. *hops out of Blades and steps aside*

Cody: *confused. Had been ready to hand baby to older brother*

Cade: *grins at him* You know how to get them strapped in.

Cody: *big grin and goes to do so*

Blades: *watches as his son is strapped in and Cody jumps out of his cockpit, then fusses quiet urgings to hurry at Dani as she climbs in, stows the baby supplies, and gets her helmet on*

Dani: Why don't you go ahead, guys? It'll take us a shorter time to get back to the firehouse anyway.

Cody: *right!* *checks on Sabrina*

Cade: *meh meh meh! at his sister even as he pokes Heatwave in wordless demand of truck mode*

Heatwave: *grumping at Cade, even as he returns to vehicle mode*

Blades: *watches his teammates roll out, and then shortly follows them*


Griffin Rock firehouse


Blades: *trying to get his wife out of Chase as an excitedly clicking and skreeking Seeklet tries to get up close and see the new people* No. Doggy, you have to wait. Guys, can't you distract him?

Cody: *has a shiner from excited Doggy flailing* I don't think I should try again.

Sabrina: *soft sound*

Blades: Heatwave, can't you grab Doggy? *sounds a bit exasperated*

Chief Burns: *getting ice for Cody. Already passed ice to Cade where he's hiding in the bathroom*

Heatwave: C'mere, Sundog. *moving to pick the excited Seeklet up*

Sundog: *squeaks protest and flails. Wants to see!*

Heatwave: *soft grunt as he gets hit with a wayward flail* Let Blades get Sabrina out, Sundog.

Sundog: *whiiine*

Blades: *quietly thanks Heatwave, and then gently removes his bundled wife from Chase's back seat*

Graham: *covered in mud as he stands in the middle garage door* Who's the lady?

Blades: Meep!

Chase: *will transform once Sabrina is safely extracted from his interior*

Sabrina: *turns her head slightly at Blades' "Meep!"*

Graham: *looks up to exchange a puzzled glance with his even filthier partner* Um. Is there something we missed?

Chase: Her name is Sabrina.

Heatwave: She was in the field with the green scarecrow. No idea how she got there.

Sabrina: *soft sound*

Boulder: She looks tired... *curious and concerned*

Blades: Yes, she is. *gently cradles wife* And she's going to have a rest now. Cody, may I have Orion?

Cody: Awww. *gives baby into the hand*

Blades: *gently tucks curiously frowning baby in with his mother* Now you go back to sleep. *turns to step on the lift*

Cody: *shakes head and goes to stand by Chase* I've never seen Blades in that kind of mood, even when he's trying a new recipe.

Dani: *sees Graham and Boulder's expressions* We'll explain after you two are cleaner.

Heatwave: *looks to Graham and Boulder, soft snort* And Boulder rolled right through the mud again. *amused*

Graham: *sheepishly* We had a bit of an after slide. He was in the path.

jet of water: *hits Boulder from the side*

Graham: Ack!

Chase: *walks over to the door and looks outside*

Bullet: *has the high pressure hose and is giving her new teammate a shower*

Boulder: *showered! Mud flying all over*

Cade: *weak wisecrack and heads for the kitchen*

Dani: *shakes head and goes after brother to keep him from eating all the cheese slices*

Heatwave: *will bring Sundog to the bunker and see if the little guy's interested in a nap before dinner*

Chase: *quiet sigh, will move to greet Bullet*

Bullet: *will wash her wordmate too!*


that evening


Sundog: *scooting all over, clicking and skreeking up a storm as he searches for something. Was already searching the human part of the Firehouse and didn't find what he wants. Ransacking the bunker now*

Blades: *quietly watching as he sits on the couch and holds his family*

Sabrina: *leaning comfortably against Blades and watching Sundog search* *quietly* What is he looking for?

Blades: Something to make his wings less itchy. *soft chuckle*

Boulder: *glances up from intent cellphone conversation about a scientific journal, but conversation is too arresting. Starts talking again!*

Sundog: *studies Uncle Boulder's book and phone, decides those aren't what he needs. More looking and "talking"!*

Sabrina: *quietly* What about a loofa on a stick?

Blades: They put them on sticks? o.0

Sabrina: *nod* To make the harder to reach areas accessible.

Sundog: *scratching on the corner of the bookcase! Scratching! Scratching!*

Dani: *pauses in stepping off the elevator, and then laughs softly* Come here, Doggy. Let's go find Dad's shoe brush.

Sundog: *"Go find?" Ooo. That sounds interesting!* *scoots to Dani, making all kinds of happy sounds*

Sabrina: *soft chuckle*

Blades: *watches them go* *quietly* It's just like you said about when the wings start developing in some realities.

Sabrina: *small smile* I guess our realities aren't that different in some aspects, then.

Blades: *curious perk* Oh, you mean your reality is one of the ones that do that?

Sabrina: *nods* It can sometimes take fliers a little while to develop all of the sensor nets necessary for flight.

Blades: Did you have the itchy wings, or the twitchy wings? *looking down at her with that innocent curiosity*

Sabrina: Twitchy. But poor Ferdy had itchy wings, and so did Susie.

Blades: I wonder which way Orion will be affected.

Orion: *small newborn sound. Already recognizes his name*

Sabrina: *attention on the baby, will gently and carefully smooth his hair* We'll find out when he's older.

Blades: *watches wife and son interact, then gives a worried little frown* Do you think he'll ever be a bot?

Sabrina: *quietly* I'm not sure.

Blades: *wibbly sound* *but then perks as he decides to focus on taking care of family instead of worrying about family* Do you want some more smoothie, 'Brina?

Sabrina: *small nod* I think I can handle a bit more.

Blades: *takes the cartoon dragon shaped straw cup and offers it tenderly*

Orion: *looks at the cup and frowns muchly, sucking on his tongue*

Sabrina: *will drink slowly, enjoying the smoothie*

Blades: *quietly* I think after this you need to go back to sleep. The doctor said you need a lot of rest.

Sabrina: *absent sound of agreement*

Blades: Do you want me to put you down this time? Dani and Cody brought a bed while you were asleep.

Sabrina: *quietly* A-Alright.

Blades: *gentle nuzzle for her hair* But I'll stay by you so you don't have bad dreams.

Sabrina: *small nod* *quietly* Thank you, Blades.

Blades: *softly* You do it for me all the time.

Sabrina: *expression goes a bit strange for a few moments, and then she's sneezing*

Blades: *squeak! o.o* Bless you!

Orion: *amazed at the ride he's getting and the sounds Mama is making*

Sabrina: *pulling a face now* I think I'm leaking...

Blades: ! *quick look around, and then calls over his shoulder* Heatwave, where's the tissue box?

Heatwave: Last time I saw it, Sundog was carrying it around.

Blades: Oh. *perk* Can I borrow your microfiber polishing cloth?

Heatwave: What? Why? *frowning*

Blades: *plaintively* Because I need it!

Heatwave: *grumbles and goes to get the cloth* *will bring it over, still grumbling*

Blades: *sweetly* Thank you. *holds cloth to Sabrina's nose* *softly* Blow!

Sabrina: *so confused*

Blades: *gentle and coaxing* Like you showed me how to do the first time I cried.

Sabrina: *will do that, then* *has to stop midway through*

Blades: 0.0

Heatwave: 0.0

Blades: You leaked right through!

Heatwave: ... Don't bother returning the cloth. *will turn and head for the lift*

Blades: *carefully wiping Sabrina's face and then offering her a dry area of cloth, so he doesn't notice his teammate's departure*


basketball court


Cody: *sneaking up on Chase and Bullet*

Chase: *distracted, is currently kissing the Wrecker*

Cody: *sneak. Sneak...*

Heatwave: *will carefully step over Cody and move to poke Chase*

Cody: Meep!

Chase: *startled sound, breaks the kiss*

Bullet: *stumbles back a couple steps and then blinks dazedly up at Heatwave before focusing and scowling*

Heatwave: *ignores the scowl from Bullet* Alright. What's going on with Blades and Sabrina?

Cody: That's... kinda what I wanted to ask too, Chase.

Bullet: *brow quirk* Who's Sabrina?

Heatwave: *to Bullet* We got a call about a woman wandering in the field with the green scarecrow. Apparently, she's someone Blades knows.

Chase: *quietly* I still maintain that it would be better to ask Blades regarding Sabrina.

Cody: You do remember that Kriti's taught Heatwave at least six different ways that he could use to knock you down and tickle you, right?

Bullet: *interest at Heatwave's explanation fades into a face palm*

Chase: *quieter* Did you attempt to ask Blades? *really doesn't want to tell, at least not without Blades giving him the okay to do so*

Dani: *comes wandering out, slowly rotating an arm at the shoulder and smiling at the memory of sleeping Sundog cuteness* Ask Blades what?

Heatwave: What the deal is with him and Sabrina. *frowning at Chase*

Dani: She's his wife, you dork. Couldn't you tell?

Cody: :o

Heatwave: *jaw drops*

Chase: *boggling now* How did you find out, Dani?

Dani: *grins* Blades told me.

Cody: Blades married a human lady? *brain break* Um. So what about Orion?

Heatwave: *picking his jaw up enough to frown* There's no way he's actually Orion's dad.

Dani: Actually, he is. Sabrina's usually Cybertronian.

Cody: *see the eyebrows, Dani? Yes, that look of disbelief he got from the Chief*

Heatwave: *boggling* What?!

Chase: *quietly* They normally meet in a location known as the nexus.

Dani: He didn't think she could come here. I guess he was wrong.

Cody: *still with the look*

Chase: *quietly* Remember when Blades awoke with blistered paint on his hand?

Cody: *looks up, still with the look* Yeah...

Dani: Wait. What? When was his paint blistered? Why didn't anyone mention this?

Heatwave: *frowning and thinking back* You were on a date with Taylor.

Cody: *slowly, as he nods* It was the night we watched that Godzilla movie.

Chase: Blades had fallen asleep near the beginning. He was dreaming. And in his dream, he burnt his hand on a pot of pasta... because he was human in said dream.

Cody: *leans back a bit* How does that happen? That he wound up with blistered paint because of a dream?

Chase: I believe it has something to do with the nature of the nexus Blades mentioned.

Heatwave: *small scowl* Then why haven't any of us had weird dreams?

Dani: Wait a minute, Chase. Are you saying Blades isn't really dreaming, he's going somewhere else?

Chase: *quieter* And taking on human form when he does.

Dani: How does that even work?

Cody: You're the one that told us Sabrina's usually Cybertronian.

Dani: That doesn't mean that I know how it works.

Boulder: *coming around the corner from where he was watching a small frog cling to the side of the firehouse* I wonder what it's like, to travel like that?

Dani and Cody: *ack at the unexpected appearance of the green bot*

Bullet: *frowns at Boulder* What were you doin' back there? Peekin' at me an' Chase?

Boulder: I found a tree frog.

Cody: *momentarily distracted* Really? Already?

Dani: *baps him*

Boulder: *will carefully lower his hand so Cody can see the tiny tree frog*

Cody: Ohhhhh. Aww. He looks cold.

Dani: *baps him again* Back to the matter at hand.

Cody: Oh right. *looks up*

Chase: *seriously* I believe Blades would be able to better explain.

Heatwave: Pffft. Blades couldn't tell his way out of a paper bag.

Cody: Well, it is his story. And he must have told it to Chase already. *looks quizzically to his sister*

Dani: *nods*

Bullet: *to Chase* You haven't heard him tellin' stories to Doggy, have you?

Chase: *headshake* Not like this. The stories he usually tells to Sundog are old Cybertronian stories.

Bullet: He was talkin' about some gingerbread mon the other day.

Boulder: Those aren't the only stories he's told Sundog. The other day, he was telling the story of John Henry, and then he told the one about Captain Ahab.

Cody: He loves his pirate and sea movies. *turns toward the Firehouse* Let's go see what he can tell us.

Heatwave: *moving to follow, will carefully herd Boulder inside as well*

Chase: *soft sigh*

Bullet: *fingers dig into his sides suddenly!*

Chase: *VERY undignified squeal*

Dani and Cody: *turn back toward the sound with surprised faces*

Chase: *SO mortified*

Heatwave: *snickering now*

Boulder: *sympathetic grin*

Chase: *embarrassed throat clearing* Let us proceed inside.

Bullet: *soft chuckling as she slips past him and does so*


inside


Cody: *out of the human quarters* D'awww. Dad's sleeping with Sundog. How about I bring him down later, bots?

Boulder: Aww. *small smile*

Heatwave: *nod*

Bullet: *chuckles and leads the way over to the bot size lift* Let's get this show on the road then.

Dani: *quirks a brow up at the Cybertronian woman from where she's already standing and waiting to go down*

Chase: *moving to join Bullet on the lift*

Bullet: *wiggles her fingers at him, eyes dancing with mischief*

Chase: *shyly reaches for her hand*

Heatwave: *rolls his optics and makes sure everyone's on the lift*

Blades: *sound asleep as he curls around the bed that holds his wife and newborn son, his face showing the strain of the day even as his hand protects the pair*

Cody: *soft "D'awww"* *looks up at Heatwave* Maybe we should wait till morning. They look pretty tired.

Heatwave: *frowns and nods*

Sabrina: *soft sound*

Dani: *winces at that soft sound, then turns and starts shooing everyone away*

Cody: *ducks a sister swat and whispers about going to bed, then heads for the human lift*

Bullet: *pulls her word mate back toward the bot lift* //C'mon. Let's go sit under the stars.//

Chase: *small nod as he's pulled back toward the lift* //We should have a clear view of the meteor shower as well.//

Dani: *hands on hips and frowns up at Boulder and Heatwave*

Boulder: *blinks* *quiet* Oh. *will move to head for the lift*

Heatwave: *small nod, will also head for the lift*

Dani: *realizes that no one is going to bed early tonight. Slight grin as she looks over at the three who have, and then she follows the others*

((Written with random_xtras))